Card Classes to Go are a significant part of my Stampin’ Peace business. Today, I’m giving you a “behind the scenes” look at the many steps that go into providing Card Classes to Go for my customers and followers.
Step 1: Design
I typically feature 1 stamp set or bundle when planning. I consider what other products I may want to use with that, DSP, embellishments, ribbon, die cuts, etc. I then choose the colors I want to work with. Color inspiration often comes from Stampin’ Up! Color Coach Cards or even the label on the back of Designer Series Paper packs. Then I simply set out designing the cards. I’ll use a different card layout for each of my designs, sometimes including a fun fold or two. I try to use as any elements of the stamp set or bundle as I can. I want YOU to get the most use of your products!
Step 2: Market
This one is a doozie. I don’t have a business or marketing background and then there’s the social media scenario if you want to build a online presence with your business. My background is elementary education. I taught kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grades for a few years before Peter and I started a family. Then I became a stay-at-home mom and “professional” school volunteer. I loved teaching and being in the school environment. SO all this business and marketing and social media “stuff” has been and continues to be a lot to learn! I’ve done a variety of training courses and will continue to do so to learn as much as I can “better my best”
Once I determine the prices of my classes to go, I then write up the details. Not everyone receives information in the same way, in the same place or at the same time, therefore, I market my classes to go in a variety of ways. Those ways include email, here on my blog, my DBWS (Demonstrator Business Web Services), Facebook Business Page, Facebook VIP Group, and Instagram, and with plugs in my Facebook Lives. And of, course, you can’t advertise just once. So all in all, advertising is a big deal and requires much effort and planning.
Step 3: Order
Once the registration window has closed, I determine all the SU! products and supplies I need to order – how many stamp sets or bundles; how many embellishments, trims, envelopes, and add ons; how much card stock and Designer Series Paper. Once my list is made, I place my Stampin’ Up! order, typically with expedited shipping for a quicker turn around time between customers ordering and receiving their class to go,
Step 4: Cut & Prep
Once I receive the products and supplies, I begin cutting and prepping the many pieces and parts that make up the cards. I keep everything sorted by card.
Step 5: Sort
Now it’s time to sort all those piece and parts into card packets. (It’s a good thing I have lots of tables to spread out on.) The pieces for each card are stacked and put in an envelope.
Step 6: Collate, Bag, & Label
Once card pieces are put together, I collate the card packets according to how they appear in the PDF Tutorial. These get put into a cello bag and sealed so pieces for each card stay in their envelopes during the shipping process, and label the card packet. The label includes the name of the class to go, month, year, and my contact information. I use a Dymo Label Printer and labels which makes for fast work.
Step 7: Package for Shipping
Card packets, Stampin’ Up! products included in the class to go, and add on products are package securely in Padded Envelopes for shipping – pretty pink or crisp white because they’re so much prettier than brown. LOL.
Step 8: Weigh & Print Shipping Labels
Each shipping package gets weighed on my shipping scale – many are the same but some are different if people purchase the stamp set or bundle and/or add on products offered. I then use Pirate Ship to create the prepaid shipping labels and print them with a Dymo Shipping Label Printer. Pirate Ship is free and saves you money and time. If you have a small business or ship packages frequently, check Pirate Ship. It might help you save money and time also.
Step 9: Post Office Drop Off
Now it’s time to load up my car and head to the post office. Each post office seems to have a place or bin where you can drop off your postage paid packages. It sometimes takes me 2 or 3 trips inside, but there’s no waiting in line. The employees at my local post office are great. They’re super friendly and appreciate me having my pre-paid packages placed neatly inside Stampin’ Up! boxes for drop off. Yep, I reuse those SU! boxes from my orders.
Step 10: Email Registrants
Upon returning from the Post Office, I email everyone who has purchased a class to go to let thank them for their purchase and let them know their kit is on its way. I also include the PDF Tutorial in the email which they’ll use to make their cards.
Step 11: Bask in the Joy
I recently saw this quote. “Joy is magic. When you share joy, it multiplies.” Wow. That quote by Margaret B. Moss pretty much sums up what this whole card making business is all about. We find joy in creating and in sharing our creativity with others. And when we send out our handmade cards, we are sharing that joy with more people. And doesn’t our world need more joy? Absolutely! So let’s all keep on creating and sharing and spreading joy! Thanks so much for being a part of my Stampin’ Up! community. I hope I bring as much joy to you through creating and sharing as the joy you bring to me through our shared interests, the connections we make, and the relationships we build.
Thanks for letting me share with you a bit of what happens behind the scenes. There’s always lots happening in the Stampin’ Peace Studio. Thanks for letting me share with you a bit of what happens “behind the scenes”.
Wishing you peace, joy, and happy stamping!
Mary Knabe